"What do you need, Master Dick?" He swiped the duster across the mantle of the fireplace as Dick fell onto the couch. 
                          
"I want to know about Phantom's injuries. Bruce says I can't see him until I 'assess the situation'. I'm assessing. So, what happened while I was sleeping?"
                          
-----
                          
Phantom whined as he woke, trying to regain feeling in his limbs as he pushed himself up. His body gave out and he collapsed, jarring his healing injuries as he bounced on the mattress. He sighed, scratching at the bandages on his torso as he curled up on the bed. He whirled around at the sound of the door opening, relaxing at the sight of Tim. 
                          
"Hi, Phantom," he greeted. Phantom waved as he propped himself up on the headboard. Tim grinned as Phantom patted the bed. Tim sat cross-legged at the bottom of the bed. 
                          
Phantom sighed and leaned his head back. "Tim, when can I leave? I really don't want to intrude, even though your house is huge." 
                          
Tim waved his hand. "I-It's not that big," he argued half-heartedly. "And you're not intruding, but Bruce will let you know when you can leave."
                          
Phantom frowned. Tim and Alfred had said that Bruce would let him leave, but the man had made no move to kick him out. "Yeah huh. This place is bigger than the G-" Phantom cut himself off quickly. "It's bigger than any other building I've ever seen. Well, aside from the Mou- mall. The mall," he repeated as he pinched the thin blanket. 
                          
Tim hummed and drummed his fingers on his knee. "I guess it is a large house. But I-I don't live alone. I have Bruce and Alfred and Di- Just Bruce and Alfred," he rushed. "No one else." Phantom glanced up as Tim chuckled timidly.

                          
"Robin doesn't live here?" Phantom furrowed his brow as Tim bristled. 
                          
"I have to go." Phantom looked away as Tim eased off the bed. "Uh, I'll see you later." Phantom bit his lip and nodded mutely. Tim opened his mouth to say something else but shook his head and left. 
                          
Phantom hid under the blankets as he tried to make sense of the conversation. Was Robin just a figment of his mind last night? Was he finally going crazy, seeing things and people who weren't really there? He wiped his nose as he sniffled, hugging himself tighter as he cried softly. He barely registered to hear the door open and footsteps come close to the bed. 
                          
"Phantom, you have a guest," MINA announced. "Note the rise in heart rate and increased work of sweat glands."
                          
"Okay, just apologize and get out. So simple even I can't mess it up. I've assessed the situation per Bruce's orders." Phantom blinked at the sound of pacing. "Apologize and out. Apologize and," Phantom peeked over the edge of the blanket and his guest stopped pacing, "out."
                          
Phantom's eyes widened at the sight of Robin in civvies. His heart jumped against his rib cage as color erupted on Robin's face. "R-Robin? Is it really you? Are you really here?" he whispered. Robin licked his lips as he nodded, tugging on his blue silicone bracelet. Phantom mewled as he backed away. Robin winced and stepped back. "I'm sorry," Phantom sobbed. "I know you don't li...I-I know you don't like me, so I'll leave. I'll leave, just, please, please don't send me back to the GIW." Phantom gasped as Robin stepped forward. He trembled behind the blanket. "Please! I don't wanna go back again. I don't wanna go back. Please, please, please," he rambled. 
                          
Phantom stilled as Robin wrapped his arms around him, his warmth traveling over the ghost's cold body in waves. Phantom's eyes bugged at the soft sniffles Robin made on his shoulder. Phantom raised his shaking arms to return the hug and Robin squeezed tighter. "Please listen," he whispered. "I-I don't want you to leave. I never wanted you to leave the Mountain. Sir coerced us into...he forced us to give you back or else he'd kill hundreds of people with the chemical he made you steal. I tried," Robin began to tremble and Phantom hugged him tighter, "I tried so hard to stop him, but it wasn't enough. I'm the one who's sorry, Phantom. I-I'm so sorry.

                          
"I'm sorry I let him hurt you a-and we left you there. I-I'm sorry if it made you feel like we gave up on you. I'm just really sorry. I-I-I don't want you to think I hate you. That's far from the truth." Phantom wiped Robin's tears when the boy pulled back. Robin let out a wet laugh as he sniffled. He cupped Phantom's cheeks as he tilted his head. "I really like you," he admitted. "You're amazing and I don't deserve to know you."
                          
Phantom giggled. "I-I like you too, Robin."
                          
"I don't believe either of you understand the complications of your statements," MINA cut through. "Your heart rates increased on the second word and-"
                          
Phantom shook his head as Robin cried in relief and swallowed Phantom in another hug. "I know your secret identity now. You're name's Dick, right?" The boy nodded and Phantom shifted. "Do you remember when we were in the med bay at the Mountain and you couldn't tell me?" Dick chuckled as he nodded into the crook of Phantom's neck. "Does this count as you telling me your secret?"
                          
Dick pulled away and shrugged. "I guess it does," he said slowly. "I trust that you'll keep it to yourself." Phantom nodded and hid his face in Dick's chest. Dick laughed as he ruffled the white hair. "Then I'm glad you know. I'm so glad you know everything," he whispered as his eyes grew heavy. 
                          
Phantom moved over and pulled Dick onto the bed. His cheeks flamed as Dick snuggled into his chest, his breaths tickling his skin through the fabric of his shirt. Phantom hesitantly wrapped his arms around Dick and pulled him close. He placed his cheek on Dick's head, breathing in the familiar scent deeply as his heart beat in his ears. 
                          
Dick hadn't wanted to give him back. Everything was as it should be. Phantom cried as Dick moved in his sleep. 
                          
Dick hadn't wanted to give him back. 
                          
"Do you really mean it?" Phantom questioned as his eyelids drooped. "Do you truly like me, Dick? I thought you were my friend at the Mountain, but now I'm not sure. No one's ever liked me in a positive way before I met you. Sir liked me, but that hurt. You never hurt me. At least, not physically. How do I know you're serious? How do I know?"
                          
Dick hadn't wanted to give him back. 
                          
But could he trust the boy's word?
                          
______________________
                          
Loads of angst-fluff and everything inbetween. 
                          
I think Danny and Dick are adorable. I might change my mind about no relationships in this fanfic. I don't know...they're just really cute...
                          
See you sooner than next Friday because school's out and I have more time. Yeah!